Today's Church: Grade "F"
Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus are commonly recognized as the reference manual for church government with respect to Construct and Conduct. These very broad terms encompass as subject matter how a church's leadership qualify their teaching and their leaders. These important pastoral letters inform us as to acceptable and unacceptable conduct and doctrine. The common theme in these writings from Paul is Sound Doctrine and how that informs every aspect of church life and personal conduct.
Unfortunately for us today, these letters stand as an indictment on most churches today. Today, with one eye upon these epistles and the other open modern churches, reads as a sort of Report Card for our churches and leadership; and we are failing. Paul offers Timothy and Titus warning and some predictive consequences should these instructions go unheeded. These prophetic consequences have sadly come to pass. However, in individual church terms, corrections can be made and destruction avoided. The solutions with their instructions, are contained within the letters themselves.
What we will examine here is a look at the epistles, backward. That is, we will take a careful look at Paul's last days prophecies and warnings within the modern context and then run back to Paul's instructions and how these would correct a church gone the way of error.
In 2 Timothy chapter three, Paul offers a sobering account of what the last days will be like:
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God... ... 6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. 7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) -NLT
This is a very clear echo of his first letter to Timothy in chapter four, which states similarly:
1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer. -NLT
Within the paradigm of today's Emergent Churches, the “Seeker Friendly” crowd, those churches have modified their services to look more like the world, so as to be attractive to the world. Rather than services that are true to the Biblical model, the church of the New Testament is considered passe, old hat and ineffective or no longer “Relevant.” Unfortunately, when these “emerging” churches strive for “relevance,” what they mean is, relevant to the world. When Paul and Timothy arrived in Ephesus, the church was already relevant to Ephesus. Paganism was rampant. Self-centeredness was the prevailing style. Paul's effort and desire was to see them change more into the image of Christ as the Ephesians were taught from the word of God. Sadly, today churches are running the other way, headlong into paganism.
As Paul said would happen, in these last days, we live in a Selfy generation and people do not consider worship of their Lord and Savior. They do not go to church to learn of him and be equipped for the great commission. Church is the place to punch the proverbial spiritual time-clock, network, and most importantly, it is a place to be entertained. In our age of television commercial breaks, the meaningful Bible reading or worship now becomes tedium and so moves at a breakneck pace. The music is man-centered about how awesome God thinks we are, how much He loves us and what He wants to do for us. The “sermons” are a quick reading of a Bible passage to offer a nod of acknowledgment, then it is on to the message, probably not related to that passage, and done in fifteen to twenty minutes. A full thirty minute message may go by if the pastor is having an off day and it will be nice personal stories and shallow insights or more like TED Talk.
“Lovers of themselves and their money” (2 Tim. 3:2) is just as likely, if not more so, to describe the pastoral staff as the congregation. The same might be said about “boastful and proud.” Turn on the radio, cable, or satellite and you will find a vast portion of a “sermon” polluted with the pastor's boasts about how awesome his (or her) walk with God is in this life and how you ought to be the same. Here is what God wants to do for you! Then you may get New Age paganism mixed in to the message about positive thoughts or blatant Transcendentalism advice on Contemplative Prayer.
The phrase “scoffing at God” brings to mind the prevalent New Apostolic Reformation preachers on television who use Holy Spirit machine guns, Holy Spirit belching and the like that is outright blasphemy. When Paul warned Timothy about scoffing at God, he must have thought Paul was exaggerating. In that second letter they are describes as Doctrines of Demons. Paul said kids would be disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. How does the saying go? “Nailed it!” Children today are not only disobedient, but horror stories abound in today's news concerning school behavior. Youths have little appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy and are supremely ungrateful for all the “stuff” they have. They are ever desirous of still more.
“They will consider nothing sacred.” We live in an age of so-called Social Media that is fraught with more unsocial behavior and language than anyone could have ever imagined just ten or fifteen years ago. Kids of all ages will post inappropriate photos of themselves and others, and the filth they text or message to one another could make the most seasoned sailor blush.
And yet as desperately depressing as the fulfillment of Paul's prophecy is, I will step out and say that today's churches are not entirely without hope. We know the world must go in this direction, prophetically, and it will get worse as even Jesus underscored on Olivet. We see played out in the Book of Revelation events that will literally stop the hearts of men, but as long as believers have the Holy Spirit, there is hope. As long as the church is on earth, there is hope. Perhaps not to save the whole world, but for individual churches and their people to again become effective, rather than defective. Productive rather than obstructive. It is within these letters that Paul, writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, offers the formula; the instructions for success in God's economy of what is success.
It is said that no church will ever rise above its leadership. Evidently Paul was of the same mind. That is why in all three letters, two to Timothy and one to Titus, Paul addressed the importance of Godly leadership. Although Timothy tends to lean more toward leadership and Titus to organization, even Titus is not without strongly charges instruction with respect to leaders. So it is not surprising that Paul begins right away with leadership instructions.
Paul's first instructions to Timothy are to get rid of the bad eggs. The heretics are the ones who come in and create divisions... splits within the church. So he says stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth (v. 3). Then he tells Timothy what things to stop them from saying that are not love from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. (v. 5) Paul continues to address false teaching but then shifts and addresses an attitude of humility in instruction, all the way to the end of the first chapter. Paul's emphasis, we read time and again, is to cling to sound doctrine.
After Paul instructs Timothy in how to handle those causing dissent and with what attitude, Paul offers guidance in what proper worship ought to look like and how folks ought to look and behave like, and with what attitude, in chapter two. With these instructions, we no doubt would lose half of nearly all congregations. Especially the part about how women ought to comport themselves and dress. Not to mention that they ought not to be teaching men or have authority over them in the church. This will empty many a seat. The good news is, no money will be wasted in church building expansion or new furniture.
Now, of whom remains in the church, we may now begin rebuilding to look more like the church God desires. We take a deep breath as we begin chapter three wherein Paul offers us a fresh opportunity with new leaders in our church (because many have fled to make trouble elsewhere). “A church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach,” he begins in verse two. All the way through verse thirteen Paul tells Timothy what to look for in Elders, Deacons and their wives; purity, faithfulness, wisdom that comes with years. In verse fifteen Paul tells us why. “so that...you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
Paul in chapter four tells Timothy about how it will be with False Teachers in the last days, as we have seen, but then he encourages, “If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.” (v. 6) So be encouraged, dear believer, as this is for us as well.
So there we have it. Paul encourages Timothy to keep going and not give up. Teach these things and cling to sound doctrine. Most of the trouble we see today is not in the “foundation of truth” or sound teaching, but rather the endless fables and the vain, empty jangling of today's meaningless and repetitious choruses, devoid of deep and worshipful meaning and doctrine found in the old hymns. Today's theater seat churches with mini plays and videos are fluff and more fluff. Milk at best and wholly lacking in meat. A return to solid teaching and adherence to godly standards will weed out the phonies and be greatly appreciated by sheep, hungry for the Word, nourished as Paul just said. And what happens when sheep are nourished? You need not paint up the church to look like a prostitute to appeal to the world. With nourishment, the sheep will do the multiplying themselves without ginned-up revival meetings or night club entertainment.
Chapter four, verse eleven: “Teach these things and insist that everyone learn.” Do you think this will weed out some bad eggs? Indeed it will. He closes out chapter four with:
15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. -NLT
In chapters five and six Paul takes Timothy through practical matters to live out one's faith and love among his congregation. Paul adds, (5:21f) “I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.”
Then in chapter six Paul in inclined to warn Timothy in verses two through five that some will come along and tell him how he's doing it wrong. He's run some people off and now some others are upset, and they have a better way of getting it done:
2 Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. -NLT
Paul charges Timothy to avoid fruitless disputes and debates, and godless discussions with those who oppose him. Wise words for any occasion.
With respect to his letter to Titus, Paul's admonition begins similarly, and that is to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. Again, today's churches are more about how to have more rewarding lives. God is a mere by-word. Likewise, Paul also instructs Titus how to appoint godly leaders. It is an exceptionally rare thing that the congregation will constructively change the character of the leaders, even through prayer. Rather Paul encourages right leadership and behavior of his leaders first and then the congregation. And he adds in Titus 2:12, “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God...” (NLT)
Thus is reiterated the instruction to teach right-living, teaching sound doctrine, living a right example. Titus had laboring with Paul at Corinth. Anyone who remembers those letters knows they had a variety of problems entirely different from those at Ephesus or any other church. But whether at Corinth, Crete, Ephesus or Laodicea, the instructions do not vary. The answer to troubleshoot the problem is always the same. It is to teach godliness and lead in a godly manner. The admonition is to not be like the world, and to push worldliness out, rather than to embrace it or make the church attractive to the world. The church today is working to be appealing to the world and count the world among its numbers.
Chapter three, “Remind the believers.” (v. 1). Then in verse eight, “I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good.” And to give a couple of warnings and if they do not improve, have nothing to do with them. So again, teach, don't put up with godlessness and disputes, remain faithful.
Paul's final letter, 2 Timothy, reiterates much of the same. Two characteristics of leadership Paul emphasizes for Timothy in his departing letter are faith and love. These are the two important hallmarks above all others Paul seems to want to hang his hat on in the end. Almost as if he is saying, Timothy, if you remember nothing else, remember this. Your church leaders must be (1) Men of faith, as Paul has been, (2) Motivated by Love, as Paul was. How church leaders define the two themselves will depend upon their world view. If we are honest, we will admit that most outside a Biblical world view will sound more like Oprah than Jesus Christ. The only way to gain leadership or shape leadership with a Biblical world view is to teach sound doctrine and not give expository teaching a mere passing nod. This is perhaps much of the reason Paul spells out examples of what Biblical leadership looks like and how it is lived out in church and at home.
An examination of the 2 Timothy centers around Biblical teaching and not programs, events and music that are the best way to appeal to the world, or ways you might present the gospel that are less intimidating. Rather, what we find among Paul's final deathbed words is the exhortation to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Instant = diligent. (Or better, urgent.) Paul doesn’t say “preach from the Word.” Rather he instructs “preach the word.”
Reprove = with conviction.
Rebuke = actually, threaten.
Exhort = comfort, build up.
What we find similar from the first century to today is the infiltration of heterodoxy in the church. Paul both pronounces victory in his life through struggles by perseverance in preaching the faith of the gospel. The rest of the time Paul is encouraging Timothy to remain on the same path. Paul closes out the third chapter with the following concerning sound doctrine. “It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (v. 16b, 17) But we know chapter breaks are man's construct and we may observe that the topic really continues in the following chapter with a solemn charge “in the presence of Christ Jesus” who will one day judge and set up his kingdom:
Teach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
That day has come. Every believer must decide, whether joining, or leading a fellowship, if they will seek one that honors God in pursuit of sound doctrine, or to get their ears tickled with Atta Boy sermonettes by pastorettes. Are you a Churchtain or a Christian? Will you lead a life poured out to God, looking forward eagerly to Christ's coming? Or reject truth in favor of pablum to satisfy the flesh only to face Christ eventually with great regret?
Obviously, the correct answer is on the side of Paul. Are we willing, as with Paul, to stand alone, knowing that Christ will strengthen, though others abandon. Are we willing to preach the entire gospel, though others not stand by us, “knowing that the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom? All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18)